Ken Mawr United Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Ken Mawr United Presbyterian Church, 1760 Pine Hollow Road, McKees Rocks, PA 15136, 412.331.2863, www.kenmawrchurch.org, Rev. Karl McDonald, Pastor.

Bob’s thoughts:

Sometimes I have a foreboding about a church visit. Today the parking lot was closed off for repaving; we had a few minutes to look for a restroom and noticed no signage and even had to step into a restroom to identify which gender it was for. I think God lets this judgmental side come out so He can put me back where He wants me.

The Sanctuary is white, walls and ceiling, but somehow “color happens.” The few items that are not white, like two purple banners that frame the large cross on the wall, are great, but I think the room was colored by the spirit of the worshipers. There are things that come to me when I am not seeking, and I have to credit God. There is a unity that brings color to their worship.

At the Prayer of Confession we were led to confess our sin – singular, the sin of pride – at the heart of all our other sins.

The choir assembled from the congregation for the Anthem, giving an impromptu look. There was joy in their worship – I saw the smiles.

During the offering the piano was accompanied by an acoustical guitar, which was a profoundly pleasant rendition.

The sermon wove around Christ healing the man who was blind from birth, and the important part was that the eyes of his heart and soul were opened to Christ. His blindness was not the result of some sin, as was assumed, but that God might be glorified in the healing.

This is what came to me: we are called to be a rhino for Christ. A friend who is an engineer pointed out to me once that a rhino’s eyesight is so poor that they cannot distinguish between a man and a tree at 15 feet, and a charging rhino can reach 40 mph. At that speed, he has no idea what he will be running into. I believe God calls us to be blind like that for Christ: to have the faith to charge without knowing where He leads us. I want the eyes of my heart and soul to lead me.

Communion was served silently and the pastor served himself. The choice of music during Communion was excellent and well done.

I liked the prayer card of Paul’s prayer from Ephesians 3:14-21.

Jan’s thoughts:

Upon our arrival we found the church in the midst of repaving their parking lot – an ambitious project for a church in these trying economic times. The interior is very well kept; some is actually brand new, adorned beautifully. The colors of the walls, furniture, and decorations presented a lovely, coordinated image.

Initially we did not notice much signage; in seeking the restrooms I had to walk into one to see the sign on the front of the opened door. Unfortunately it was the men’s room. Oh well. A sign on the wall outside the room would have made it easier.

The Sanctuary is attractive with two stunning purple banners on each side of a beautiful wooden cross hanging on the rear Chancel wall and two equally exquisite green banners hanging on the rear wall of the Sanctuary. The high white wooden ceiling and the white trim set off the dark wooden pews perfectly.

The bulletin is unusual – the 8 ½ x 11 bulletin contains only the Order of Worship, and inside is folded an 11x14 sheet that is full of announcements, two different colored half-sheets for sign-ups and another half-sheet with words to a song, a publication called “Glimpses of Christian History,” this edition about a man named Richard Baxter (looks interesting), and a card with "Paul’s Prayer for the Church” (Ephesians 3:14-21). Whew – plenty of reading material for the rest of the week; but even with all that it was easily handled, for which I extend kudos (probably to the Administrative Secretary/Treasurer, who is likely the woman who took the time to introduce herself to us after worship).

More folks greeted us than I expected, since this church has an earlier service as well. As we’ve mentioned in the past, most churches with more than one service can appear less than friendly because everyone figures if they don’t know you it’s because you usually attend the other service. However, the people who greeted us were the pastor’s wife and the church secretary/treasurer – people who would know the members and therefore knew we were visitors.

The music was low-volume and exceptional. There was much piano with both an acoustic and bass guitar, quietly done. The hymns were on the contemporary side, which was fine by me, and when it came to the closing hymn, “Shine, Jesus, Shine,” they sang it like they meant it. It was truly uplifting!

I wish I knew the title of the Anthem, but it was not in the bulletin. It was a spiritual and many of the words were sung staccato-style, and it was a blessing to hear. (You can tell I’m not a choir person…it’s just not one of my gifts!)

The sermon was entitled “A Man Blind From Birth” and was based on the story in John 9:1-23. The pastor spoke of the difference between being physically blind and spiritually blind, and how this man in the Scripture had not only his bodily sight restored, but also the sight of his heart and soul.

In verse 2, the disciples asked Jesus, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The pastor pointed out that even in this day and age, it’s common to believe that someone is physically or otherwise challenged due to some sin committed by them or someone close to them. But Jesus assured the man that this was his purpose on this earth and his healing would be the vehicle through which he would bring glory to God.

I had to think of all the suffering known by those I know and love. Is it just possible that our sufferings are the vehicles through which we might bring glory to God? Perhaps our challenges are part of our purpose on this earth, and God uses them not only to mold us into the people He wishes us to be, but to mold the people around us into the people He wishes them to be as well. And perhaps, when we reach Heaven, we may even say, “Lord, I would willingly have suffered more had I only known how much more glory it would bring You.”

We had the privilege of participating in the Sacrament of Communion today also, during which the piano/guitar quietly played duets of “Open the Eyes of My Heart” and “Be Thou My Vision” – so appropriate considering the sermon.